Sighting apparatus for guns.



010.000,017. Patqnted 001.- 30, |900.

H. A. Ivow KnETscHmAn '0 .1. voLLMEn. SIGHTING APPARATUS FOR GUNS.

(Application med Aug. 7, 1900.) (No Model.) f

- tiring.

HANS ALFRED VON KRETSOI-IMAR, OF ESSEN, AND JOHN VOLLMER, OF ALTENDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO FRIED. KRUPP, OF ESSEN,

GERMANY.

SIGHTING APPARATUS FOR GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part ef Lettere Patent No. 660,817, dated october 3o, ieo.

Application filed August '7, 1900. Serial No. 26,124. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HANS ALFRED voN KRETSCHMAR, residing at Essen, Ruhr, and JOHN VOLLMER, residing at Altendorf, near Essen, Ruhr, Germany, both citizens of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sighting Apparatus for Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in sighting apparatus forguns, and has for its object to provide an apparatus of this character which may be used equally Well in taking a direct sight and for adjusting the gun when an auxiliary target is used. In taking direct ai in-that is, adjusting the sightline to point directly to the target-a sighting device permanently connected to the gunbarrel is generally used, the same usually consisting of a front and rear sight. With such sighting devices it is possible to take sight on the so-called auxiliary target (object situated to the side of or behind the gun) only Within narrow limits, and therefore a secondary or auxiliary sighting device is used to enable indirect sighting to be accomplished-that is, such sighting Where the target to be fired at cannot be seen over the front and rear sights, and the sight-line is directed to an auxiliary target on one side of the target to be fired at and the angle determined through which the gun-barrel-that is, a vertical plane passing through the axis of the gun-must be turned to hit the true target. This secondary sighting device is mounted on the gun-barrel only when it is desired to sight indirectly and is always removed before The secondary or auxiliary sighting device generally consists of a short rule provided with a front and back sight which is mounted adjustably upon the upper surface of the barrel and the lateral angular adj ustment of which in sighting is read off on a scale.

The present invention consists insubstituting for the two sighting devices above described or for devices Vof a similar nature a single sighting apparatus comprising a telescopic attachment of which the telescope is adjustable on the attachment-rod, so that 'when the gun is fixed the telescope can be adjusted to any target within the field, and consequently the apparatus canbe used both for direct and indirect sighting.

The nature of the invention will best be nnderstood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal Section of a sighting apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line 2'2, Fig. 1, looking from the left of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 1, both the latter figures being seen from above. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the sighting apparatus. Fig. 6 is a rear View of the saine.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates the telescope of the sighting apparatus connected to the casing B, so as to be adjustable angularly essentially in the same manner as shown in Letters Patent No. 635,102, dated Oct-ober 17, 1899. Similarly to the construction described in said patent the telescope herein shown is provided with a pivot C and a post D and can turn about the pivot C, while the post D, which is made rectangular or square in'cross-section, passes through an opening in a sleeve G, which is pivoted within a cylindrical bearing formed in a nut E, guided to move in astraight line by a bolt lo, passing through said nut and the post. The rectilinear motion of the nut E, caused by a screw-spindle F, turns the telescope angularly or laterally about the pivot O. The extent of the lateral or angular adjustment of the telescope effected thereby is read off on a scale H of the screw-spindle F so far as fractions of degrees are concerned, while the whole degrees are read off on a scale J of the spindle K, which latter is prevented froni turning and has a thread formed thereon which engages with a corresponding thread of the spindle F, and consequently said spindle K is moved in and out when the spindle F is turned. In the prior patent,'No. 635,102, herein referred to the casing B forms a rigid part' of the attachment-head M, located at the top of the attachment-rod T.

ICO Y In the present example the attachment-head M is in the form of a hollow cylinder, and the casing B is screwed into the said head, as at L, instead of being rigidly secured thereto, and its unscrewing or loosening is prevented by a ring N, placed over the same and screwed fast upon the attachment-head. The ring N is provided at its top with an inwardly-turned `flange n, which extends over a portion of the casing B and is in the path of a flange b, formed on said casing. The threaded connection L does not serve for the purpose of effecting a rigid connection of the casing B with the attachment-head M, but permits turning of the casing B, together with the telescope,relative to the attachm en vt h'ead M, and it also oers a large bearing-surface and is consequently but little exposed to wear. To permit this turning of the casing B, the flange b of said casing has play between the upper edge m of the attachmenthead M and the inwardly-turned ange n of the ring N. This play is sufcient to permit the casing B, together with the telescope, to be turned through an angle of three hundred and sixty degrees-thatis to say, through an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees to the right and one hundred and eighty degrees to the left from its central position relative to the attachment-head M. The casing B is formed with an interior toothed rim O, and Within the attachment-head M is placed a lever R, which is adapted to turn on a horizontal pin Q. One arm of said lever R is formed as a toothed sector r', while the other arm is subjected to the pressure of a spring S and extends outwardly through a slot in the attachment-head M and is provided at its outer end with a finger-piece r2. Normally the toothed sector r is in engagement with the toothed rim O; but this engagement may be interrupted by depressing the finger-piece r2, and in this case the casing B, together with the telescope, may be turned relatively to the attachment-head M. When the linger-piece r2 is released, the casing B is held fast in view of the toothed sector 'r' again'engaging with the toothed rim O under the action of .the spring S. The angle through which the casing B is turned relative tothe attachmenthead M is read off by means of an index V, formed on the latter, and a scale U, formed 'on the ring N. 'lhe'number of teeth on the rim O is by preference so selected that the quotient resulting from the division of three hundred and sixty by the number o t' teeth is a whole number. For instance, for seventytwo teeth the quotient referred to would be tive, so that by changing the relative position one tooth the telescope is turned five degrees.l

It is evident that ii' the telescope can be moved laterally from zero to two and onehalf degrees right and left from the central position by turning the spindle F the telescope can be turned to any desired angle between zero and three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the attachment-head, and

consequently that while the gun remains irl a fixed position any target around the field can be sighted.

VIn using the new attachment for direct sighting the casing B remains permanently in its central position relative to the attachment-head M-that is to say, the index V is opposite to the Zero-mark of the scale U. The next step is to move the attachment-rod T upwardly in the socket of the gun-barrel to a distance required by the range, and the telescope is given such an angular lateral position as will correspond to the lateral deviation of the projectile for the given range, and then the gun-barrel is so pointed that the target appears at the intersection of the crosswires of the telescope.

When the sighting' attachment is to be used for sighting through the medium of an intermediate or auxiliary target, it being assumed that the gun-barrel is approximately in a horizontal position and the attachment inserted, the gun is given approximately the direction toward the target to be tired at. The fingerpiece r2 is then depressed to disengage the casing B from the attachment-head M, and the gunner looks through the telescope and turns the latter until the vertical cross-wire of the telescope is on the auxiliary target, whereupon he releases the linger-piece r2. In case the toothed sector r should not snap into the toothed rim O the telescope must be slightly turned until the lever does snap in, and then the telescope can be adjusted exactly to the auxiliary target by means of the spindle F. The angle which the axis of the telescope makes With the axis of the barrel and which is read 0E on the scale U in Aconnection with the line lateral adjustment of the telescope indicated by the scales J and H forms the basis of the subsequent sighting, which is .done in .the usual man'ner.

While with the above-mention ed secondary sighting device it is necessary that the gunbarrel should be approximately horizontal and that the attachment should be pushed in in sighting, this is not'so with the present telescope attachment. A sight on the auxiliary target may be taken with the improved attachment atvany elevation of the gun, provided only that in sliding up the attachmentrod from the socket the telescope should be in an approximately horizontal position. Owing to the eccentric arrangement of the pivot C, With which the casing B turns, the angle read oit when both the coarse and fine adjustments are made does not correspond with mathematical exactness to the angle Which the telescope actually makes with the axis of the gun; but the error is of no importance in this method of sighting. If, however, this error is to be taken into consideration, the connection of the telescope with the casing B must be slightly modified, so that the axis of the pivot C and the axis of the casing B fall in the same line.

Of course it is to be understood that differ- ICO IIO

ceden? ent means may be employed for effecting the fine or coarse lateral adjustments or for connecting the easing With the attachment-head Without changing the nature of the invention.

What We claim as new isl. In a sighting apparatus for guns adapted to be used both for direct and indirect sighting or pointing, the combination With the attachment-rod, of a telescope attachment swiveled to the attachment-rod to be laterally adjustable through a Wide range, so that with a fixed gun the telescope may be turned to any target Within the field of the gun, substantially as described.

2. In a sighting apparatus forguns adapted to be used both for direct and indirect sighting or pointing, the combination with the attachment-rod, of a casing revolubly connected with the attachment-rod and laterally adj ustable to substantially a full revolution, a telescope connected with the casing to be laterally adjustable with respect to the same, and means located Within'said casing for effecting a line lateral adjustment of the telescope, substantially as described.

3. In a sighting apparatus forguns adapted to be used both for direct and indirect sighting or pointing, the combination with the attachment-head provided with a screw-thread, of a casing provided With a thread engaging with the thread of the attachment-head to permit it to be turned relatively to the latter, a telescope connected With said casing, and means for effecting a tine lateral adjustment of the telescope located within said casing, substantially as described.

4. In a sightingapparatus for guns adapted ving is held fast after the lateral adjustment of the telescope, substantially as described. 5. In a sighting apparatus for guns adapted to be used both foi-direct and indirect sighting or pointing, the combination With the atL tachment rod and head, of a casing carrying the telescope mounted on the attachment-head to permit it to be turned through substantially a full revolution, an internal toothed rim formed on said casing, a spring-pressed lever pivoted to the attachment-head and adapted to engage with said toothed rim of the casing for holding the casing fast, means for turning the telescope through a small angle for eecting a line adjustn1ent,and suitable scales for indicating the angles through which the casing is turned relatively to the attachmenthead and the angles through which the telescope is turned relatively to the casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HANS ALFRED VON KRETSCHMAR. JOHN VOLLMER.

Witnesses WILLIAM EssENWEIN, PETER LIEBER. 

